Briana recently graduated from the University of Florida with a bachelor’s degree in journalism and a minor in teaching English as a second language. Following her passion for telling human-interest stories, she has reported in Cuba and Berlin and held two summer internships at The South Florida Sun-Sentinel. She also interned at The Gainesville Sun in Florida. While at the University of Florida, Briana worked for the web, radio and television departments of WUFT.org, the NPR and PBS affiliate. This summer, she will be a news intern at The Las Vegas Review-Journal. She is a member of the National Association of Hispanic Journalists.

From left: Daisy Batista, 16, Jeremy Rosario, 17, Kenny Selsky, 15, and Jacob Morales, 16, are Upward Bound students from the Bronx. Daisy said she wants to study criminal justice and psychology. “Now I know I can do everything,” she said about her experience in the program.Briana Erickson/NYT Institute

The Upward Bound programs at Columbia and Fordham, which help low-income students prepare for college, have lost more than $1.2 million in federal aid, and their fate lies in the crosshairs of Washington.

A new affordable housing building for seniors, formerly known as Draper Hall at East Harlem’s Metropolitan Hospital Center, is accepting applications for 51 apartments, with a preference for East Harlem residents. Maria Alejandra Cardona/NYT Institute

A former dormitory for nurses that has been vacant since it was damaged in Hurricane Sandy will soon reopen as apartments for the elderly, expanding housing for a population struggling to pay skyrocketing rents.